Skanda Review: Ram Pothineni drives this over-the-top, mindless action fest

Massy, action films have been a mainstay in South cinema. But it seems like the success of the KGF franchise has tweaked the DNA of the genre, redefining how these films will be made in the coming few years.

Skanda looks like it follows the KGF template. In the film, director Boyapati Srinu has shot many over-the-top action scenes, like his previous release Akhanda. Srinu's new outing is again a massy, action potboiler that may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but offers some moments of good, campy fun while also serving as the perfect showreel for Ram Pothineni.

3 things you need to know

• Skanda is fast-paced and its overwhelming to keep up with it sometimes.
• Ram Pothineni has ample scope to showcase his heroism and does an impressive job.
• The song-and-dance sequences are vigorous and infectious in their energy.

(A still from Skanda trailer)

Hot Take

After a brief prologue, Skanda gets to the point where Chief Ministers of two neighbouring states find themselves at loggerheads. After the son of one of them elopes with the daughter of the other on her wedding day, things take a violent turn.

Several attempts are made to murder the first CM and his family, but each of them are stopped inadvertently by a fierce, young man named Bhaskar (Ram Pothineni). The rest of the film unravels the connection between Bhaskar and these two warring families. The narrative is filled with endless action sequences and countless number of men getting killed before the hero-figure finally gets his revenge.

Does Skanda live upto the hype?

Skanda is every bit the over-the-top action fest it promised to be. But more than anything else, it serves as the perfect platform for Ram Pothineni to showcase his potential as a mass hero.

(A still from Skanda trailer)

Skanda is over-the-top and relentless

It’s easy to dismiss Skanda as a loud, mindless action potboiler. It is every bit of this and more and it stays true to its genre. It is loud and over-the-top to a point that you can simply laugh and walk along the unhinged masala fest unfolding onscreen.

Every character talks like they are on a stage, giving sermons to the crowd. Every move of the hero puts the villains and their henchmen on the backfoot. Everyone’s hair is always flying and everyone gets a slo-mo shot. Even the hero’s timid father who, suddenly turns authoritative in a confrontational scene, walks away in slo-mo after giving out threats. Every character is in awe all the time - either overcome by sentiments, or simply shocked by the protagonist’s physical prowess. At most points, actors look less human and more like some Whatsapp emoji - Skanda is literally that animated in its energy.

What also works in the film's favour is the intrigue around its hero’s identity that stays undisclosed until the interval point. In the second half, the action gives way to some melodrama and an elaborate backstory explaining the hero’s motives behind his violent rampage. It’s only in these portions where the film slows down. Subtlety would be asking for too much, but even the word restraint doesn’t seem to exist in Srinu’s dictionary.

The protagonist is the ‘hero’

Ram Pothineni has done a couple of action movies before, but in Skanda, director Boyapati Srinu sets the stage like never before. Pothineni’s machismo is on display. He manages to carry the kind of hyper-masculinity required for this role, although the strenuous effort shows. The protagonist is invincible in these parts. Bhaskar is so effortless in his ruthless avatar that Pothineni’s limitations as an action hero get clouded by the protagonist’s exaggeratedly towering aura.

(A still from Skanda trailer)

After a point, you are just curious about how the director-action choreographer duo will conjure newer ways for Pothineni to kill the bad guys. But somewhere, Skanda continues to find ways. It’s another thing that by the time the film's climax arrives, one might feel numb to onscreen violence and noise.

The most surprising moment is when Bhaskar admits that he returned to his village after failing at Stanford University. “Is our hero human, after all?" Comes the thought. There is a grand scheme behind Bhaskar’s return to India, and the melodrama accompanying this reason is powerful enough to make you go weak in the knees. If only you are into this kind of kitsch and camp - because Skanda is nothing, if not kitschy.

Song-and-dance sequences add energy

Skanda might be driven by its elaborate action sequences (some of which outstay their welcome), but the film carries similar energy in its song sequences as well. Ram Pothineni as a dancer is gifted both with fluidity and vigour, and it shows in all the dance numbers, be it Cult Mama, Nee Chuttu Chuttu or Gandarabai. Sreeleela might have been sidelined in the dramatic portions, but matches Pothineni step by step in both Gandarabai and Nee Chuttu Chuttu. Her energry is infectious. Urvashi Rautela, too, is in great sync with Pothineni in Cult Mama.

(Ram Pothineni and Urvashi Rautela in Skanda | Image: Ram Pothineni fanpage/Instagram)

It would be difficult to recall the last time one witnessed an intro/item song between two action sequences. In short, our protagonist bashes and kills atleast a hundred thugs. This is followed by a revved up song sequence before we return to another relentless action sequence. Such narrative-building requires either too much self-confidence or too much faith in their audience. Perhaps, Srinu has both.

Watch it or skip it?

If you like an occasional over-the-top mindless, massy movie, Skanda might just turn out to be a treat for you. For the rest, it will require too much attuning of one’s taste palettes for it to be fun.

Bottomline

Ram Pothineni gives his best in this action vehicle that entirely relies on his star power.

Rating - 2.5/5